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Welcome to Pathology's Bi-Weekly Bulletin | March 20, 2026

Pathology faculty lead major share of newly funded genomics projects

Researchers across the UBC Faculty of Medicine are partnering with industry to advance seven newly funded genomics projects aimed at improving disease detection, diagnosis and treatment.

Three of these projects are led or co-led by faculty within the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, highlighting our department's leadership in advancing genomic research into clinical impact.

• Dr. Patrick Tang is leading a project with Fusion Genomics to develop targeted metagenomics approaches for improved infectious disease diagnosis.
• Dr. Marcel Bally is leading a collaboration with SeraGene Therapeutics to advance a novel RNA-based therapeutic for thrombotic disease.
• Dr. David Huntsman (co-PI) is contributing to a project focused on antibody-based therapeutic targets for endometriosis, in partnership with AbCellera.

These projects are supported through Genome Canada's Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) and Genome BC.

Read the full announcement

Pathology faculty part of $21M federal investment in research infrastructure

Researchers across the UBC Faculty of Medicine have been awarded more than $21 million in federal funding to support new research infrastructure that will accelerate discovery and health innovation.

Faculty from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine are contributing to two of the funded projects, highlighting our department's role in advancing research capacity and innovation:

• Dr. Cornelia Laule (Radiology/Pathology and Laboratory Medicine) is co-leading the UBC MRI Research Centre expansion to advance imaging technologies for brain disease and injury.
• Dr. Leandro Venturutti is leading the Cytometry Operations for Research Excellence (CORE) project to support transformative immune-oncology research.

Read the full announcement

Dr. Katey Enfield receives Terry Fox New Investigator Award

Congratulations to Dr. Katey Enfield, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, on receiving a 2026 Terry Fox New Investigator Award.

Dr. Enfield's research focuses on understanding why immunotherapy is effective for only some lung cancer patients. By studying tumour–immune interactions and identifying new biomarkers, her work aims to improve how treatments are selected and applied.

This national program supports early-career researchers as they establish their labs and advance new approaches to cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Read the full announcement

Dr. Honglin Luo nominated for YWCA Women of Distinction Award

Congratulations to Dr. Honglin Luo, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, on being nominated for the 2026 YWCA BC Women of Distinction Awards.

These awards recognize women whose work is making a meaningful impact across communities in British Columbia and beyond.

We are pleased to see our department represented among this year's nominees.

Recently published work from our department

• Dr. Cheryl L. Wellington's lab – A collaborative review on vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), with Dr. Mehwish Anwer (Postdoctoral Fellow) and Tetiana Poliakova (PhD student) as co-first authors. Read the publication
• Dr. Ann Tran – Massive intravascular hemolysis from Clostridium perfringens bacteremia. New England Journal of Medicine. Read the publication
• Dr. Hamish Nicolson – Late-onset telomere biology disorder presenting with pancytopenia and immune dysregulation. American Journal of Hematology. Read the publication
• Dr. Wei Xiong – Biopsy-derived colonoid air-liquid interface models reveal persistent mucosal defects in ulcerative colitis. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Read the publication
• Dr. Andre Mattman and Dr. Janet Simons – Laboratory medicine and sustainability: towards a green lab. Clinical Biochemistry. Read the publication

BC Cancer team received the Betty Rice Award at the 2026 Canadian Lung Cancer Conference

Led by Dr. Diana Ionescu, BC Cancer/UBC team-led project titled "The Hunt for ALK: Real-World Experience with ALK Testing for Determining Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Therapy Eligibility in British Columbia" won a prestigious Betty Rice Award in the Medical Oncology stream at the 2026 Canadian Lung Cancer Conference. The project team also included Drs. Tetiana Povshedna, Emilian Gheorghe Olteanu, Deepu Alex, Curtis Hughesman, Tracy Tucker, and Chen Zhou.

The Betty Rice Award for Lung Cancer Research was created by the Rice Family in memory of Mrs. Rice who died of lung cancer several years ago. The Betty Rice Award was established to promote lung cancer research by clinical fellows or graduate students and is awarded annually.

Pictured: Dr. Tetiana Povshedna, receiving the award at CLCCO from Dr. Cheryl Ho on behalf of the team and happily sharing it with Dr. Diana Ionescu.

Getting Creative: Pathology as Art

Members of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine continue to explore new ways to engage with pathology through education and creativity. Medical student Lynne Altow, working with Dr. Diana Ionescu and the Pathology Interest Group, has contributed artwork to the international Pathology Captures initiative, highlighting the intersection of science, education and visual expression.

View the full story and artwork

New website: Core Facility for Neurology Biomarker Innovation

The Core Facility for Neurology Biomarker Innovation has launched a new website, highlighting its research, partnerships and growing impact in brain health and neuroimaging.

The Core Facility for Neurology Biomarker Innovation is a Canada-wide collaborative program advancing research in brain injury, neurodegeneration and neurological health through innovative imaging and biomarker approaches. Since 2016, the program has supported more than 70 projects, produced 50 publications, and contributed to over $75M in research funding.

Dr. Cheryl L. Wellington serves as Academic Lead for the Core Facility for Neurology Biomarker Innovation.

• May 27 – Public Open House
  Location: Rudy North Auditorium, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
  4:00–6:00 PM – Interactive panels exploring the use of fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease and critical care.
• Scientific Symposium
  Location: Diamond Centre Auditorium (DHCC 1020 LT), Vancouver General Hospital
  8:30 AM–5:30 PM – A full-day symposium bringing together researchers, clinicians, trainees and partners. Lunch will be served at the Medical Student & Alumni Centre (MSAC).

Visit the new CFNBI website

Announcements and opportunities

• New CPD program: Laboratory Cases in Clinical Microbiology – Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing (CMPT) has launched a new set of online courses covering Clinical Bacteriology, Mycology, and Enteric Parasitology. These case-based modules include self-assessment quizzes and practical guidance on organism identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, and reporting practices. CSMLS/ASCP continuing education credits are available, and CMPT participants may be eligible for discounted registration. Explore the program
• Register for upcoming UBC learning opportunities, including a conflict approaches workshop, a messaging master class, and new tip sheets to support communication and workplace skills. Learn more and register

📣 Have News to Share?

Do you have a story, publication, award, event, or other exciting update to share with the UBC Pathology community?

We'd love to hear from you! Please reach out to Debbie Bertanjoli at dbertanjoli@pathology.ubc.ca.

Let's celebrate our collective achievements and keep our community connected!